Nigeria’s Senate President,
David Mark, on Sunday pleaded with the striking Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) to return to work.
Mark made the plea while
commissioning a lecture theatre donated to the School of Management Sciences at
the Kano State Polytechnic by Senator Kabiru Gaya.
This is disclosed in a statement
issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh, in
Abuja.
Mark said calling off the strike
would salvage the already battered education sector from further deteriorating.
He urged the Federal Government
not to use the sledge hammer on ASUU on account of the lingering strike.
“We have reached a situation
where hard line positions would worsen the situation. My plea to ASUU is to
resume classes while negotiation continues. Senator Mark was surely making
reference to the ultimatum given by education minister, Nyesom Wike that
academic staff return to the classroom on or before 4 December or be sacked.
ASUU on its part has scoffed at the ultimatum.
But as David Mark noted: “The
strike has done enough damage to our universities. They have also made their
points and I think we should reason together and end this matter once and for
all.
“Nobody, including the
university teachers can be said to be enjoying this crisis. It is a huge cost
on government, parents, the management, staff and students themselves.
“ASUU over the years has enjoyed
the sympathy of Nigerians. I am afraid, if they remain adamant on this, they
would lose the sympathy and support of the people,” he said.
He reiterated the inevitability
of quality and functional education for the survival of any nation, saying that
everything needed to be done should not be compromised, to save the education
sector.
He thanked the senator for the
gesture and appealed to corporate organisations, individuals and groups to
emulate the senator and join hands in developing the education sector.
The senate president also
commissioned other projects, including solar power water bore holes donated to
the Nigeria Army 3 Brigade Command, Bukavu Barracks, Kano State.
Other bore holes commissioned
were donated to the Police Command, Bompai, Kano, Nigerian Prisons formation
and Kano Golf Club.
Sen. Gaya said the projects were
part of his commitment to give back to the society in positive ways and
ultimately address the water supply deficiency faced by the people.
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